Automatic crossing-signal.



.l. R. CROW. AUTOMATIC CROSSING SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.Z. 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1- Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

J. R. CROW.

AUTOMATIC CROSSING SIGNAL.

APPLICATION man FEB-2.1915.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

a'wumwoz a bbomeg Z 7////////////////////////////////////////////////////////I/ And COLUMBIAPLANOGRAPH cc., WASHINGTON, D. C.

JAMES R. CROW, 0F CLEVELAND, TENNESSEE.

AUTOMATIC CROSSING-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug.31l, 1915.

Application filed February 2, 1915. Serial No. 5,619.

automatic crossing signals.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic signal that issimple in construction and operation, effective, and one that will notreadily get out of order so as to become inoperative. A trip is arrangedin such a manner that an approaching train automatically signals itsapproach. Means are provided for making the signal inopera- ,tive withrespect to trains going away from the crossing.

A further object of my invention is to provide a visual signal incombination with an audible signal, so that in cases where noises wouldordinarily drown out the audible signal, the visualsignal will warn ofthe approaching train. Likewise where deaf persons otherwise wouldreceive no warning of danger, my visual signal is especially elfective.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be clearly understood from the details description anddrawings forming a part of this specification.

Furthermore, this invention consists in the novel arrangement andcombination of parts more particularly described in the followingspecification and embodied in the claims appended hereunto and forming a.part of this application.

Referring now to the drawings, which are merely illustrative of myinvention, Figure l is aplan view of my signal system. Fig.

2 is a detail elevation of the trip plate mounted showing its operativeposition with respect toa rail. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view ofthe trip plate and rail taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is aside elevation of the signal member. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of thesignalmember. Fig.

'6 is an enlarged fragmental detail sectional view of signal operatingmechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the bell striking mechanism.

Referring further to the drawings, wherein similar reference charactersdesignate similar parts throughout the respective views, 1 designates arailway track and 2 the crossing thereover. At a certain dis tance fromsaid crossing is mounted a trip plate generally designated by 8, saidplate being laterally disposed along the outside of a rail. The end 4',farthest from said crossing, is beveled on top thereof and the oppositeend 5 is bent outwardly with respect to the top of the rail alongside ofwhich the trip is mounted. An L-shaped strip 6 is formed along thebottom of said trip plate, said strip extending outwardly and thencedownwardly a certain distance. A standard 7 is embedded in the roadbedalong the out side of the rail, as shown in Fig. 2, with the upper endthereof pivotally mounted at 8 through the downwardly extending portionof said L-shaped strip and at the beveled end A of said strip. A slot 9is provided through the other end of said strip. A bell-crank lever 10is fulcrumed in a carrier bearing 11 embedded along the outside of therail. To

the upper end of said lever 10 is an inwardly extending pin which isslidably engaged at 12 within the slot 9. The other end of said lever 10is provided with an outwardly extending pin 13. A spring member lt issecured at oneend to the lower edge of said strip 6 near the centerthereof, the other end of said spring member being secured in theroadbed, and the spring being adapted to. maintain the trip plate inoperative position against the outside of the rail.

The signal member of my system is located near. the crossing 2. Itconsists of a standard 15 mounted near the tracks, and supporting aboxing 16, wherein is mounted a bell 17. A shaft 18 is pivotally mountedthrough the sides of said boxing, said shaft carrying a ratchet wheel19. A pawl 20, adapted to engage with said ratchet wheel, is pivotallymounted on one end of a bifurcated lever 21, the opposite end of saidbifurcated lever being pivotally mounted at 22. A downwardly extendingrod 23 is pivotally mounted to said bifurcated lever at a certain point,said rod extending through a hole 241 in the bottom of said boxing.

spring member 25 interposed between the bottom of said boxing and saidbifurcated lever, is adapted to maintain said lever normally in raisedposition which is regulated by stop 21. The ratchet wheel 19 is providedwith'a plurality of pins 26 projecting outwardly'from one face thereof,said pins being adapted to contact with an arm 27, rigidly mounted on aspring actuated shaft 28, and integral with a bell hammer 29. The spring30 on said shaft 28 operates to cause the bell hammer to normally engagesaid bell, said hammer receiving its stroke from action of arm 27sliding off of pins 26. Mounted on the shaft 18, and on the exterior ofsaid boxing 16 is a wheel 18. Said wheel 18 being adapted to rotate withsaid shaft 18, thereby providing a visual signal for an approachingtrain.

To the rod 23 is secured a shock absorber 31 consisting of a metallichousing 32, a rod 33 slidably mounted through the bottom thereof andprovided with a head 3 1 on the inner end thereof. Interposed betweensaid head and the bottom of said housing is a spring member 35. One endof a wire 36 is secured to the lower end of said rod 33 while the otherend is secured to a bell-crank lever 37 pivotally mounted near the baseof the standard 15 as shown in Fig. 4. To the lower arm of said lever 37is secured one end of a wire 38, the other end being secured to one armof a bell-crank lever 39, as shown in Fig. 1. To the other arm of saidlever 39 is secured one end of a wire 40, the other end of said wirebeing secured to the outwardly extending pin 13 of the bell-crank lever10.

It will be noted that when a train approaches the crossing 2 its wheelswill engage the trip plate 3 which, being pivoted to the standard 7,will actuate the bell-crank lever 10. The bell-crank lever 10 in turnwill operate the bell-crank lever 39 by means of wire 40, which in turnactuates the bellcrank lever 27 through wire 38, said lever 37 pullingdown rod 23. A shock absorber is interposed between said lever 37 andsaid rod 23 which is designed to prevent a sudden snapping of theconnecting members. The bifurcated lever 21 pivoted at one end at 22 isactuated by the rod 23, said lever having a pawl 20 pivotally mounted onits free end thereof. It will be further noted that a downward movementof said pawl 20 will rotate the ratchet wheel 19 mounted on the shaft 18which will rotate the wheel 18 forming the visual signal of my system.Also a rotation of the ratchet wheel will cause a reciprocating movementof the arm 27 by means of the arm engaging and disengaging with the pins26 on said ratchet wheel 19. A bell hammer 29, integral with said rod 27is adapted to strike the bell upon the disengagement of said arm andsaid pins, by means of a spring actuated shaft 28 to which the arm andhammer are secured.

t will be further noted that when a wheel, of a train going away fromthe crossing, comes in contact with the outwardly flared end 5 of thetrip plate 3, the trip plate will be pushed outwardly and downwardlythereby preventing the operation of the signal. The spring 14:automatically returns after the passage of each wheel of a train.

The utility, adaptability, and advantages of my improved form ofautomaticorossing signals being obvious, it is unnecessary'to furtherenlarge upon the same herein.

Having now described and pointed out the new and useful features of myinvention, I do not limit myself to the shape of certain parts where theshape is not essential, nor do 1 restriotmyself to the exact details ofconstruction shown and described, but mean and intend to claim allequivalents and variations thereof not departing in principle from myinvention and falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic crossing signal, the combination of a trip memberlaterally disposed at a certain point on the outside of a railway rail,a standard mounted at the sig nal indicating point along a railway, aboxing mounted on said standard, a shaft mounted to the sidesof saidboxing, one end of said shaft projecting through one side of saidboxing, projecting end of said shaft, a gong mounted within said boxing,a lever pivotally mounted within said boxing, a ratchet pawl pivotallymounted to one end of said lever, a gong-striking mechanism pivotallymounted beneath said gong, means secured to said ratchet wheel adaptedto actuate said gongstriking mechanism, and means interposed betweensaid last-named lever and said trip member whereby said lever will beactuated when said trip member is depressed.

2. In an automatic crossing signal, the combination of a trip memberlaterally disposed at a certain point on the outside of a railway rail,one end of said trip member being beveled along the top thereof, theother end of said trip member being bent outwardly along the topthereof, means secured to said trip member adapted to maintain the samein operative position against the side of a rail, a standard mounted atthe signal indicating point along a railway, a boxing mounted on saidstandard, a gong mounted in said boxing, gong-striking means mount-- avisual signal secured to the ed within said boxing, a ratchet wheelgong-striking means, means mounted Within In testimony whereof I aifixmy signature said boxing adapted to rotate said ratchet in the presenceof two Witnesses.

Wheel, and means interposed between said JAMES R. CROW. trip member andsaid last-named means Witnesses:

5 adapted to actuate the same when said trip JOHN K. BROWN, member isdepressed. W. C. BRYANT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

